Display apparatus



Sept. 14 1926.

V1G. F. IR. CLARK DISPLAY APPARATUS Filed Janj24. 1921 4 sheGfLs-sheet 1J 1-..- 1 1-11.!1141. 11.1-I11111111e1x Sept. 1"4 192e.

1,599,646 G. P. R. CLARK DISPLAY APPARATUS Filed Jan. 24, 1921 4 sheets-smet 2 mi ,f7 #I @i f-f /7 l 5 54 i 'i miiiiniljlnilixixilillmlxmglglgl j l 'i nwe/wwf (S650. Re. cL/mw @j @wat ATTOR'NEYS v 1,593,646 G. P.- R.- CLARK DISPLAY APPARATUS Sept. 14 1926.

4 sheets-smet s Filed Jan. 24, 1921 INI/ENTOR ATTORNEY Sept. H14 1926.

, G. P. R. CLARK DISPLAY APPARATUS Filed Jan. 24, 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN V EN TOR 67:0.A /P. c/.Aff/r WITNESS MM2-Daw BY v d ATTORNEY 'of the specilicatioii.

Patented Sept. ld, 1926.

PATENT ETLFEQEL Geenen P. n. enana, or GARLAND, caniroanie, .essieivoit To NATIONAL ADVER- eaarn consentir, On san nn-Ancisco, CALIFORNIA; A oonronerioii or CALI- FORNIA. i

` DISPLAY APPARATUS:

.eppncetionnied January ai, 19er. semi no. 439,505.

' and withdrawn. therefrom.

An object of the invention is to providel a display apparatus of the type described in which each curtain whenl on display may be viewed from opposite sides of the machine.

Another object of the invention is to pro` vide means for effecting the unwinding and rewindng of the curtains without the aid of spr-ings. A I' ifi further object of the invention is to profvide automatically operating means for' producing different illummating effects in accorflance with the positions of the curtains.

,fr still further object is to provide an apparatus which is extremely simple in operation and in which the removable Darts may be readily withdrawn or replaced.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in thefollowing description of the preferred forni ofl my invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming'part It is to be understood that l do not limit myself to the showing made by the said drawings and description,

as l may adopt variations of the preferred form within theI scope of my invention as set forth in the claims.

.Referring to said drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of the apparatus, portions thereof being broken away to disclose the construction more clearly.

Figure @is a side elevation partly in section of one end of the. apparatus.

Figure 3 is an end view of th-eapparatus as viewed from the left of Figures l or 2, the end of the casing being removed to disclose the hidden structure.

Figures l and are vertical transverse sections of the apparatus taken on the lines 4 4- and 5-5 respectively, of Figure 2,

vFigure 6 is an end view of theapparatus siniilar to Figure 3, as viewed from the right of Figure l.

`l-"ieure T isa perspective view ofone-ofthe paitsfof tliereciprocating traveler as:

used in the present apparatus.

Figure S on" ol' the rollers.

. liste-r .expressed the .apparatus isa transverse sectional view of ashown comprises a frame and a casing having openings at their opposite 'sides at the upper and lower endsof which are mounted rotatable magazines containing` a plurality of display curtains wound upon rollers. rilhe rollers are removably held in radially dis posed recesses formedin the ma azin-es, the

recesses being adapted to register with a guideway which extends from one magazine to the other. A, traveler reciprocatively mounted for movement across the openings. is arranged in its extreme end positions to alternately engage each magazine so that a roller upon the forward movement of the traveler may be drawn into the guideway and the curtainy associated therewith uiiwound and displayed in said openings, the. return movement of the traveler enabling the curtain to be rewound and the roller replaced in the magazine. An endless ineinber moving around and concealed from the display area afforded by the openings, is arl ranged to impart the necessary recipi'ocat-ive movement to the traveler; and when the traveler has rbeen iiiovedtofengage a magazine, the endless member in cooperation with mechanism associated with the magazine effects such rotation of the magazine as will cause the roller and curtain already displayed aiid engaged by the traveler to be disengaged therefrom and a new roller and curtain placed in engagement for reciprocatioii therewith. The traveler is so formed and cooperates with the magazines and rollers in such manner that while oii-e ourtain is being drawn into display position from one magazine, another curtain from* another' magazine is being withdrawn` from display position. Simple positive means are provided without the aid of a spring for causing the rollers to rotate when they re'- cipi'ocate withthe traveler so that the proper unwinding or rewiiiding of the curtain upon the roller will always be assured. Means are also included for effectively concealing both sides of the traveler and adjacent portionsl of the curtains as they tra-verse the display area thereby rendering the uiiwfnding and rewiiidi-iig of` the curtains invisible. rllhe rollersy are readily detachable-both from the magazine. and curtain thus permitting of ready replacement of. the various associated' parte when necessary. Automatic nieaiis are' also. provided forI causingthe. curtains to be; '4 illumiaateelfia Orl-efehien vlies! a Curtain is lill.

on tull display, and for illuminating the eurtains in another fashion when they are being` unwound or reivound.

A detailed description follows:

The apparatus as here illustrated Comprises a iframe 2 which includes. longitudinal members 3 and et, and cross members 6 and 7, between which is provided the central opening S. The trame is enclosed by a suitable casing 9 having,v its opposite sides l2 and l?) hingedly mounted and provided with openings la and l5 respectively, disposed opposite the Jframe openingv 8.

Arranged in the iframe adjacent the upper and lower ends 17 and 1S thereof are rotatable magazines 2l and respectively, in which engage a plurality ot flexible curtains 23 having advertising matter or the like preferably delineated on both sides thereof. Each magazine is provided with a pair ot disks 2t` which are liXe-d on shafts 2b suitably mounted in the iframe. 'lfhe disks are provided on the periphery thereoiE with radially disposed depressions or recesses 2' in ivnich are adapted to be removably seated the rollers 28 on which the curtains 23 are Wound as is clearly shown in Figure 5. rl`he rollers with the exception ot those happeninp; to be positioned lowermost and nppermost in the magazines 2l and 22 respectively, are coniined in their respective recesses by means et open retaining` rings and 30 fixed tothe trame and against which the ends 36 of the'rollers -in the magazines 2l and 22 respectively abut. Each ring; is provided ivith hinged segments 3l which may be swung' outwardly in order to permit the removal or introduction ot any oit the rollers and curtains. Arranged at each end oit.' the -iframe and extending; trom the dislis ot one magazine to the disks ot' the other are guideivays 32 and 33 vvith Which the recesses ot' the respective disks are arranged to successively register so that the curtain roller ot the aligned recess may be Withdrawn therefrom and drawn into the guide- Way to cause the curtain associated with the roller to be displayed in the central opening,r ot the apparatus, or reversely to Withdraw the roller from the ,ejuideivays and the curtain trom the opening and replace them in the magazine, all of which will be ezt-- plained more fully hereinafter.

As will be clear from Figures 2 and 5, the rollers 28 are formed ot tubes Sil suitably xed to hollow caps 35 which support the tubes When the roller is in the guideivay as Well as in the magazine. Removably held Within each roller is a curtain rod 3T Which is detachably secured to the end 38 ot the curtain Which extends into the roller through a Vslot 39 termed in and extending longitudinally of the tube. The other end il of the curtain is detachably secured to a second curtainV rod fwliich is tired to the disk. iassociated With each roller and engaging in a slot 4:3 in the disks is a spring actuated tightener 4d which functions to retain the curtain tightly Wound on its roll er or taut When unwound therefrom.

Means are provided, as hereinbe't'ore mentioned, which function when a recess oi1 a disk is aligned with the gnideivay, tor Withdrawing a roller from such recess and drawingit into the guideway, or reversely tor withdrawing the roller from the ,quideWa-y and replacing' it in the recess. ln the present torni ot the apparatus the foregoing' means are arranged toV cooperate with each magazine so While one roller is being Withdraivn from one n'iapgazine another is being correspondingly returned to the other magrazine; Arranged to reciprocate from one magazine to the other is a traveler 46 entending' across the 'apparatus and provided at its extremities With heads 47 and 48 pre1- 'ably slidably engaged in the guident-.ys 3% and 33 respectively. Each head as here shoivn is provided With tivo vertically spaced seats 5l and 52 open on the inner side and adapted to engage the rollers ot the manjazines 2l and 22 respectively. Vhen the' traveler is in one et its eXtreme end positions, the seats associated with the magazine with Which the traveler is then cooperating, lie in the cylindrical path deiined by the rollers as they rotate in the magazine; in this manner in said position ot the traveler the functioning et mechanism associated with the magazine for causing' it to be rotated to successively position the disk recesses in alignment with tl e guide'ivays, causes a roller already engaged in the seats to enit therefrom and be retained in the magazine and enable a new roller to enter said seats whereby it may accon'noany 'the traveler as it recedes trom the magazine: assuming' noiv that a roller is already engaged in the other seat, as soon as the head engages the other magazine said roller may be deposited therein and a neiv roller Withdrawn, the continuation ot which latter Withdrawal movement will enable the head to return te said iirst magazine, deposit therein the roller belonging thereto and Withdrawv another roller, and so on.

Means are also provided for causing; the rollers to rotate While they are reciprocated by the traveler, whereby the curtains associated therewith will unwind and rewind independent of the action ot the cnrtain or any spring' actuated means. Ai* ranged in juxtaposition With the guidenfays and disk recesses are racks 53 and 54 respectively which are adapted to be engaged by gears 55 fixed to the rollers. Each rack 53 is fixed solidly to the trame, Whereas the racks 5t are fixed to the disks. When the guideways and a particular set of. recesses are aligned, the tache, 5.3v will also be in tif) aligned relation .with the racksl` associated with. said recesses thereby enabling the gears to readilv pass from mesh with .one raclrto the other!` lVitht-he` use of `gears andracksas'outlined inA theforegoing the curtains will be caused `to positivelyv unwind or rewindin accordance with the direction of v movement of. thetraveler.

hileans: are provided for concealing the traveler and' adjacent mechanism as they traverse the main opening.` Arranged on.

opposite sides of the traveler and of sufiicient size to cover both of the rollers and the adjacent portions oftheassociated curtains are shieldsr and pivotally secured to the traveler and arranged to press inwardly against the curtain through the agency of' springs (55 Then the traveler is engaged' with a magazine andthe latter is rotated' the shields adjacent said magazine should be positioned or movably mounted so as noti to interferewith the curtains during the rotation of the magazine. Since. the rollersin proximity to the shield 60 move Vtoward the right said shield owing to its yieldingmounting will not interfere with the rotation ofthe magazine. However, the shiel'd 5G swings outwardly opposite to the direction of the Lshield 60. Provision has therefore been-made for causing the shield 56 to swing outwardly before the traveler has reached an ext-reine end position. As here shown the outer ends ofthe shields 5o are curved outwardly andare adapted to engage iixed stops ('O adjacent eachl magazine so that said'shieldwill, be swung clear ofl and in no way will interfere with the magazine.

Means are further included' for effecting the reciprocation of the traveler', the rotation of* the magazines, andthe proper cooperation of the movement of one with respect to the other. Suitably mounted upon idlers 57 arranged' adjacent the junctures of the longitudinal and cross members ofthe frame, is an endless member here shown in the form of a chain 58` which is adapted to travel 'within the casing beyond the edges of the central opening. The chain is driven by a sprocket wheel 59 whose shaft 6l` is adapted'to lbe rotated continuously preferably ata comparatively slow rate of speed sothat the curtains-may be displayed for a reasonable period of time; The chain at opposite edges` ofthe apparatus is arranged to move in proximityA to the respective heads ofV the traveler, whioh heads arevextended to form a yoke G2 at theirouter faces so asto straddle the chain, The yoke portion ofA-` eachhead' is provided with a` shoulder 635 which is arranged to be engaged 'loyaI pin 64 or simi-lar element fixe-'d1 to the Chaim the pin being enabled to enter. and exit from the recess de theZsheuLder; owing to;y the reversely dfi nos angular paths tra-versedv `by the ch as. itlenters orleaves a` `l'i-eajd inthe. exe

tremev end positions of the traveler. The pin is adapted toia-lternately engage each head and remain in engagement therewith for such period as will enable the traveler to be moved from one extreme position to another, and since-the chain travels in dif-- ferentA directions at the opposite edgesof the apparatus, a reciprooative movement will thus be imparted to the traveler. The weight of the reciprocating structure is counterbalanced by a weight 66 slida-bly carried, as shown in Figure l, at one end of a chain 67 which passes over suitable idler sprockets at the top of the Vframe and is secured at its other end to the head 47 by means of a pin 50 which. is indicated in Figures 2 and Secured to each head is a spring 68 having lingers E39-Tl at the upper and lower ends thereof which areadapted to respectively engage stops 72 and 73 at the upper and lower ends of the frame whereby the traveler will be yieldingly retained in either of' its extreme end positions and preventedfrom moving therefrom unless actuuated by the pin @fl in the regular manuel'.` rl`he means `for etfectingthe rotationy ofthe magazines in the manner previously described, comprises in combination with the chain 58 and pin Se etc., rotatable disks Tl and 175 fixed to shafts 76 connected by suitable gearing to the shafts 26 of the magazines. The disks 74. and Connected gearing are as-V sociatedwith the magazine 2l and are arranged atl one end thereof7 whereas the disks 75 and connected gearing are associated with the magazine Q2 and are disposed at the end thereof opposite to that on which the disks 74 are arranged relative to the magazine 2l. The chain 58 rides upon a roller .'77 loosely mounted between the dis rs on the shaft 76, and each disk is provided with diametrically Y opposed openings 7 8 which are normally disposed in vertical alignment as shown in Figures l and 2. The openings 78 are arranged to be engaged by thepin Gil. toeffect a half turn of the disks Tl and 75, which turn produces such rotation of the magazine as will move a new roller into position for engage ment with the traveler. Each of the maga zines are preferably provided with cams 79 formed with depressions 8O corresponding in number and: position to` the recesses 27. The depressions are arranged vto be engagedv by spring pressed rollers 8l so that the proper amount of the periodical rotation of the magazines is assured. y

Automatically operated means arev provided for causing` the.- curta-ins when in full displayl position to be brightlyilluminated and for causing them to be more orl less dimly illuminated or some1 such different characteristic when the travelersf in-l motion. As here: shown a suitable electricsw-itchf 82 is` Xed-to. the;` fram-e and controls the. various branches 83v and, 84 of circuit provided ivith lights 87 and 88 Vrespectively. I have toundthat by using colored lights, such as red ones, i'or the ranch 811-, which effects the illumination ot the curtains when `not in iull display, and plain lights ci' the traveler as it reciprocates between the magazines. isposed in pronin'iity to the magazines 2l and 22 are levers 9i and respectively, co; veniently mounted on the shafts 94e ot tvro et the pulleys 57. The levers are connected to each other by means of linlrs 95 and lever 96, the latter being in turn connected by a link 97 to the switch lever 93. @ne arm of the lever 95 is secured to a spring 93 so as to cause tne srv-itch l ver 98 to norma close the branchcirouit Fixed to the inner ends oi the levers 91 and 92 are projections 99 kone ci which is adapted to be engaged by the beveled tace lOO of the head l? When the traveler assumes either its entrera end positions, engagement. ot the tace 100 with either ot said projections serving to roel; levers 91 and 92 and therebyr move the switch lever 98 to open the branch 83 and close the branch Se. ln this manner the curtain when on Vdisplay will be brilliantly illuminated. As soon as the traveler withdraws from a magazine and the tace 100 becomes released trom the projection the switch lever dueto the spring 93 opens the branch S3 and closes the branch Sel.

The operation ot the apparatus is as tollows: Y

Assuming as shown in Figures 2, 3, 4, and 5 that the traveler has just reached its lower- 'inost position so that both heads i7 and 48 engage the lower magazine 22, the curtain 9i or the upper magazine 2l is fully dislayed since its end el is lined to the latter magazine, and its roller 2S is engaged in the seats 5l of the heads, however the curtain 23h Whose roller 28b engages in the seats 52, has already been displayed and is replaced in its recess in the disks 2st. By referring particularly to Figure 2 it will be noted that the'pin 6a ot the chain 58 has just lett the shoulder 63 of the head 47 and is about to enter the opening 78 ot disks 74. Upon entering said opening the continued movement of the pin causes the disks 74 and its shaft 76 to rotate a halt ot a revolution thereby causing the magazine 22 to rotate suthciently to move the roller 28h. out of the seat 52 and move a new roller 28c into said seat. fitter disengaging itself from the disk Til-the pin nieves across the bottom oi the apparatus and then up the'right edge thereot to engage the shoulder 63 of the head ALS, during which movement of the pin the curtain 23?" is still Aon display and brightlyr illuminated. VAssoon as the pin 6e engages the head, the traveler begins its upward course causing the curtain 23" to begin reivinding on its roller and causing the roller 2S to move With it to eiiect the unrolling ot the curtain 23. At the same time the circuit 88 is opened and the circuit Se closed. Upon raising the traveler to its uppermost position, at which time the curtain 23c is on i'ull display and subjected to the full illumination aitorded by the circuit 84:, the pin Se engages the disk V75, and thereafter substantiaily the same operations are undergone in connection with the curtains 23b and 23C as Were had With the curtains 23a and 23h in nection with the loiver magazine 22.

l claim:

A display apparatus comprising a trame having an opening, a rotatable magasine disoosed adjacent one end oi' said opena plurality out display curtains arranged 'o removably engage said opening, curtai Vrs associated with each curtain and re- Tably held in said magazine, a reciprocattraveler adapted to successively Withdraw each roller from said magazine, a stationary Member extending along the side of a d opening, and means rotatable -with said roller aranged to engage said stationary member whereby the roller Will be caused to rotate as it moves with the trveller.

A display apparatus, comprising a frame, a4 rotatable magazine disposed adjacent one end thereof, al plurality ot display curtains and associated rollers arranged in said magazine, a reciprocating traveler adapted to successively engage each roller and arranged to Withdraw it :trom and replace it in said magazine, a gear fined to each roller, and a rack arranged to cooperate with said gears whereby the roller engaged in said traveler will be caused to rotate during the reciprocation of the traveler.

` A display apparatus, comprising a frame, a rotatable magazine disposed adjacent one end thereof, a plurality ot display curtains and associated rollers removably held in said magazine, a traveler adapted to successively engage each of said rollers and arranged to withdrav.7 them Jfrom and replace them in magazine, a gear lined to each roller, a raclr ned in said trame and arranged to be engaged by Yeach of said gears when the associated roller is engaged with said traveler and means for retaining each roller and associated curtain in predetermined position on said magazine.

e. A display apparatus, comprising a trame, a. rotatable magazine disposed adjacent one end thereof, a plurality ot display curtains and associated rollers removably held in said magazine, a reciprocating traveler movable toward and trom said nagazine adapted to successively engage each ot said rollers and Withdraw them from and replace them in said magazine, a gear fixed to each roller, a rack fixed in saidadapted "to cause the rotation of the roller framearranged tofbe engaged by each ofsaid Vgears when the associated roller is engaged with thetraveler.v a second rack cooperating with each of said gears and yfixed to said magazine. and means for retaining said rollers in said magazine.

5. A. `display `apparatus .comprising a frame, a rotatable magazine adjacent one ena thereof, a plurality of rollers removably positioned in said `magazineand,adapted to traverse a common circular path, display curtains wound on Vsaid rollers, a traveler reciprocatively mounted Vfor movementjtoward and from said magazinaa seat formed in said ytraveler arranged lto lie in said path of the rollers during the rotation of said magazine whereby each roller may successively enter said seat-'and reciprocate with the traveler and exit Vfrom the seat after par- Vtaking of said movement, guides between which said rollers are held against 4lateral ydisplacement during `the "reciprocative move- `*mentthereof, a gear `associated with each roller, and a rack 4cooperating with said gears arranged to eifectthe rotation of said rollers during the reciprocative movement thereof wherebyT said curtains may be unwound from or rewound on the rollers.

6. A display apparatus comprising a frame, a rotatable magazine adjacent each end thereof, a plurality of curtain rollers removably positioned in each magazine and adapted to respectively traverse a common cylindrical path, display curtains associated with said rollers, a traveler reciprocatively mounted between said magazines, a seat adjacent each end of said traveler adapted to cooperate with the adjacent group of rollers and arranged to lie in the said path of the associated group of rollers during the rotation of the associated magazine whereby each associated roller may successively enter the seat and reciprocate with the traveler and exit from the seat after said movement, guides between which the rollers are held against lateral displacement during said reciprocative movement, a gear associated with each roller, and a rack extending` the length of said guidesand arranged to cooperate with said gears to effect the rotation of said rollers during reciprocative movement thereof whereby said curtains may be unwound from or rewound on the rollers.

T. A display apparatus comprising a frame, a magazine mounted in said frame, one or more curtain rollers removably positioned in said magazin-e and arranged to be reciprocated perpendicularly with respect thereto, a curtain wound upon said roller and having one end thereof fixed to the roller and the other fixed to the magazine, cooperating members provide-d on said roller and fixed solidly to `said frame fixed annular `track for as it is reciprocated whereby said curtain may be unwound from or rewound upon the roller, tain to a yielding tension.

8. A display apparatus comprising va frame, a magazine rotatably mounted therein, one or more hollow curtain rollers removably positioned in said magazine `and vprovided with a longitudinally extending slot, a removable curtain rod arranged within said roller, a second curtain rod fixed to said magazine and arranged outside of said roller, a curtain adapted to be wound on said roller and having one end thereof extending through said slot andfixed to said inner rod and having its other end fixed to said vouter rod, and a spring pressed curtain tightening rod 'arranged intermediate the ends of said curtain.

`9. A display apparatus comprising a frame, a magazine rotatably mounted 'adjacent one end thereof and provided with radial recesses at their outer ends, Vcurtain rollers arranged to engage in said recesses, va retaining said rollers in said recesses during the rotation of the magazine, having an opening, a guideway perpendicularly disposed with respect to the axis of rotation of the magazine, and aligned with said track opening, means for rotating said n'iagazine to successively align each of said recesses with said guideway, a reciproeating traveler movable in said guideway and arranged to remain station ary and lie in the path of said rollers during the rotation of said magazine whereby one of said roller may become engaged with or disengaged from the traveler.

l0. A display apparatus comprising a frame having an opening, a rotatable magazine adjacent an end of said opening, a plurality of wound display curtains arranged in said magazine, a traveler mounted for reciprocation to and from said magazine and adapted to effect the unwinding or rewinding of said curtains whereby they may be displayed in or removed from said opening, an endless movable member surrounding the area defined by said opening, and means on said member for alternately moving said traveler and rotating said magazines.

11. A display apparatus comprising a frame having an opening therein, a rotatable magazine adjacent each end of said opening, a plurality of roller display curtains arranged in said magazines, a reciprocating traveler extending across said opening and arranged to successively engage said curtains whereby they may be unwound and rewound so as to be displayed in and removed from said opening, an endless movable member surrounding said opening, means for imparting continuous motion to said endless member, means on said member and means for subjecting said cur-` arranged to alternately engage the opposite ends oi" said traveler to effect the reciprocation thereof, and means associated with said magazines adapted to cooperate with said traveler moving means whereby each of said magazines will b alternately rotated so as to successively present said curtains in position 'fori engagement with or disengagement from saidV traveler.

12. A display apparatus comprising a 'frame having an opening, a rotatable magazine adjacent each end of said opening, a plurality oi' roller display curtains arranged in said magazines, a reciprocating traveler extending across said opening and arranged to engage said curtains whereby they may be unwound and rewound so as to be successively displayed in and removed from said opening, an endless chain adapted to move continuously around said opening a pin on said chain adapted to alternately engage the opposite ends ot said traveler to effect the reciprocation thereot'7 a rotatable member associated with each magazine and arranged to be engaged by said pin after said traveler has been moved into engagement with the magazine associated with said rotatable member whereby said magazine will be rotated sufficiently to enable the displayed curtain to be disengaged from the traveler and an undisplayed curtain to be engaged therewith. v y

13. A display apparatus comprising a frame having an opening, a group yof display curtains arranged adjacent each end of said opening, atraveler adapted to reciprocate between said groups and to successively .engage said curtains whereby they may be displayed in and removed 'from said opening, sources `of electrical illumination and circuits therefor; and a switch tor opening and closing each yof said circuits and adapted to be actuated by said traveler during` the reciprocation thereof whereby one of said circuits will be closed when `one of said curtains is in full display in said opening and the other circuit will be closed when none ot said curtains are in Yfull display.

In testimony whereof, VI have hereunto set my hand at Gakland7 California7 this 31st day of December, 1920.

Y GEORGE P. R. CLARK. 

